Progress monitoring and data collection. IEPs and RTI. We know how important it is and why it is so important… better yet, we know how time consuming it is.
But I am here to share with you a simple, easy, and effective way to save time… and your sanity. This system has been working for me for over 4 years now. Oh yeah, and it’s FREE.
This post may contain affiliate links.
I wouldn’t trade what I do for the world, but I will admit to being overwhelmed at times because… seriously… there is. so. much. paperwork.
One of my goals a few summers ago was to simplify the way I collect data on my students’ IEP goals and objectives. I had been putting this task off because the system I already had in place worked, and why fix something that isn’t broken, right?
But this time I really feel like I’ve found an effective, simple, and easy way to collect and manage IEP data (that works for RTI too).
Supplies you will need:
- Download the freebie here.
- Astrobrights paper (to color code)
- Paper cutter OR spring loaded scissors
- Binder rings (100-pack)
CREATING THE DATA RINGS
When you download the free resource, you’ll need to be on a computer. Open the editable file in PowerPoint.
Because my classroom is color coded, I print each student’s goals on their color of card stock.
To save myself more time, I use a paper cutter to cut out each goal sheet.
Add a cover for confidentiality… and this is what you finished Progress Ring will look like.
I like to add the subject or topic of the goal (a general statement as you can see above) for easy toggling when I am progress monitoring.
Your finished goal pages may look something like this.
USING THE DATA RINGS
So how do I use these goal pages to make collecting data simpler, easier, and still effective?
Let’s first take a look at how I keep data on the pages.
1. J = January, F = February, M = March… make sense? After printing, I will go through each page and add a *star* above the month in which the child’s IEP is due. You’ll notice in the sample above, this fictitious child’s IEP is due in November.
2. When I type the goal in, I tag on the measurable part on the end. In the sample, you’ll see “4 of 5”. If it were a percent, I would just type in 80%. It’s easy to read and find.
3. In my district, we are advised to have at least 3 data points for each IEP goal/objective for each progress update (which is quarterly, or 4x a year). You can edit the number of boxes, but I like to keep them… I figure one box for each week of the each month suffices.
If I don’t collect official IEP data one week, I leave the box blank.
HOW AND WHEN AND WHERE AND… WHAT DOES DATA COLLECTION LOOK LIKE IN YOUR CLASSROOM?
This video is the easiest way for me to explain and show you exactly how I progress monitor and data collect on goals in my classroom:
4. So what does collecting data look like in my classroom? We do the majority of our academic work at the back table – which is also where I keep the Progress Rings. They’re easy to find, easy to grab a certain student’s ring in the middle of a lesson, and easy to find when it’s time to write progress reports.
So if we’re working at the back table on IEP goals, I will have the student’s Progress Ring right in front of me. I typically use sticky notes to keep track of correct/incorrect responses (tallies), and then put the total fraction or percent in a slot on the binder ring. I keep the sticky notes with my weekly plans, that way if I ever need to look back at any of the data, I have it.
But the Progress Ring is simple and so much easier to look at during progress reports, where I can just type in percents or fractions, instead of filing through tens of sticky notes and deciphering data.
Want to save this idea for later, or simply keep the instructions to come back to as a refresher? Pin the image below to save or share.
Courtney Petzold says
July 23, 2015 at 10:58 pmThank you so much for sharing. I am a classroom teacher but know this will be helpful to track progress. 🙂
Magilldl says
July 24, 2015 at 12:33 amMy favorite tip so far this summer! Thank you 🙂
Magilldl says
July 24, 2015 at 12:33 amMy favorite tip so far this summer! Thank you 🙂
Creative Undertakings says
July 24, 2015 at 2:44 amThese are great ideas!
Anisa @ Creative Undertakings
Micquella Sheetz says
August 15, 2016 at 8:58 pmI know I am a year too late BUT this looks fantastic! I taught 6th grade ILS last year and was swallowed up by keeping track of all my progress monitoring. I'm teaching middle school Supplemental Life Skills this year and was trying to figure out a more efficient way to progress monitor and track! I will definitely be trying this out AND following your blog!
Natalia Kaya says
August 17, 2016 at 7:31 amI am starting my first year as a special educator this Fall and have been in a panic all summer to develop and perfect a progress monitoring system … This is exactly what I've needed! Thank you!
Krystal L. Smith says
August 28, 2016 at 1:18 pmI'm not a special education teacher, but I think I may use this strategy to progress monitoring for my students that score just below and just above the next proficiency level. This is very organized, neat, and seems easy to implement. I always have some students that are on the brim of the next level. I wonder if monitoring their progress and working indepentdently with them in small groups on specific concepts and skills will help them increase in that area. Thank you for sharing this freebie!
Mary @ TeachEachOne.wordpress says
October 19, 2016 at 11:55 pmSo simple yet effective – plus you could put the ring on a carabiner clip and attach to your beltloop. Thanks for sharing – I passed on your site to my co-workers today 🙂
Anonymous says
October 29, 2016 at 2:55 amEfficient system. We are to take 2 data points per week on each objective. I think I'll need several cards per objective to get through the year. THANKS for the freebie
Kathy says
December 31, 2016 at 3:39 amHi Stephanie. I love the cards. Thank you for making them free! Quick question, what do the x’s on the cards stand for?
Thank you,
KPCarr
Michelle says
March 8, 2017 at 8:50 pmI had the same question!
Melissa says
April 11, 2017 at 12:32 pmWould look to me like they’re off from school in the summer months
Tina says
April 29, 2017 at 1:15 amLooking at them, I bet the X’s are when there is no school since they are on June, July and the first part of August. This looks like a great system. I’ve been struggling all year to figure out what works and nothing for me is working so far. This actually might!
Terrenna Arbolaez says
May 14, 2017 at 6:06 pmThank you, so much! This will make my life so much easier. What does the “M” stand for and are you marking weekly or randomly?
Stephanie says
May 16, 2017 at 1:24 pmThe letters stand for the months of the year. And you can mark it however you’d like. The template is editable, so you can either do it weekly, monthly… daily. However you’d like!
Terrenna Arbolaez says
May 16, 2017 at 3:29 pmSorry, I meant the “M” marked in one of the squares below the months. I am still trying to figure how I will begin marking this for next year! Thanks!
Stephanie says
May 17, 2017 at 3:29 pmM is for mastered, meaning the child mastered the goal.
Terrenna Arbolaez says
May 17, 2017 at 5:57 pmThank you. I thought so, but I wanted to be sure.
Lynnea Jellison says
June 3, 2017 at 1:22 amI really love this. Last year, I had three assistants with me and it became difficult to keep them in the loop on what each child needed to work on! This would make it so much easier and help me in the graphing we are now required to incorporate. I have really struggled with being the only one to keep up with progress data! The struggle is real!!!! Lol. Thank you so much for sharing this!!!!!!!!
Heather Kress says
June 13, 2017 at 1:16 amThis looks FANTASTIC! I am so excited to try these out with my students this summer! It looks much more organized than my current system 🙂 thank you so much for sharing!!
Lisa McPherson says
June 19, 2017 at 8:37 pmThank you so much for this great organizational idea! I can’t wait to try it out in my classroom!
Lisa says
June 28, 2017 at 10:31 pmI love this and will be utilizing this when school returns. How do you balance the curriculum with trying to work on the students’ goals? Sometimes I feel like I can’t get it all done and I’m struggling with not finding enough time for everything. The school wants us to implement grade level curriculum and yet I need to go review information that they are still struggling with.
Stephanie says
July 1, 2017 at 12:42 amIt is a really, really tough balance for sure, and I don’t know if there’s one set answer to “fix” that problem. I know a lot of special ed teachers feel the exact same ways. For me, and how it works in my classroom, is we have our designated core subject times, and then each afternoon we spend 1 hour on IEP goals and objectives. Now I will also take data during core subject time, if it aligns with their goals. 🙂 I hope this helps a little bit!
Guadalupe Ramirez-Carrillo says
July 24, 2017 at 5:05 amThank you so much for sharing this fantastic and functional resource I am looking forward to using it this coming school year in hopes to make my data collection a bit more efficient.
Guadalupe Ramirez-Carrillo says
July 24, 2017 at 5:25 amStephanie what fonts did you use?
Stephanie says
July 28, 2017 at 5:36 pmFree fonts from TPT. 🙂
Nina Plank says
August 9, 2017 at 8:25 pmYou have given me the best resources this summer! I love the progress monitoring and can’t wait to use them. This is going to make my life so much more efficient. Thank you for all your hard work.
Allison says
August 21, 2017 at 12:58 amThis is a great idea! I’m new to the IEP process. However, can you please tell me how to “open it up in PowerPoint”?
Jen says
October 26, 2017 at 3:55 pmCan you show me how you wrote the quarterly goal update for this sample? Thanks it would be of great help.
Stephanie says
October 27, 2017 at 7:32 pmSomething along the lines of: “Student is able to perform XYZ based on the following trials: _, _, _, and _.” I also include any details; for example: if we used visuals to help the student achieve the goal, if we’ve been fading prompting, if one type of story interests the child over another (maybe the child got a 5/5 on one story because it was about trains and the child loves trains, but is getting 1/5 or 2/5 on all of the other trials).
Christa says
December 7, 2017 at 6:18 pmThank you very much for this document. We will implement this in our school here in Dubai.
lblount2017 says
December 29, 2017 at 9:04 pmI am so glad I came across this again…I’m back in the classroom midyear and I needed a refresher on PM! Thank you for sharing your insights and talents with us!
Curly says
April 26, 2018 at 2:54 amI can’t wait to use this I was looking for something earlier to track progress of students
mariegrutza17 says
May 23, 2018 at 6:53 amHello!! I watched your video last night and found it so helpful. I would love to implement this into my Life Skills classroom. When I click on the download freebie, it brings me to the resource library. However, there is nothing on that page. Is the link still valid?
I look forward to reading more of your articles and watching your videos. Thank you!
Stephanie says
May 23, 2018 at 8:01 amThe Resource Library is now working. Please try again.
Cyndi says
June 21, 2018 at 9:35 pmI loved the ideas you shared. I was intrigued with the glue in the plastic container. What is it and where would I find it or how to make it. I teach kinder but taught special ed for 19 years and never saw anything like this. Thanks
Stephanie says
June 23, 2018 at 1:40 pmHey Cydni, all of your questions about Glue Sponges will be answered in this blog post: https://www.mrsdscorner.com/gluesspongesinsped/
Andrea says
June 27, 2018 at 12:00 pmHi there!
Great info, especially the video!!! I just finished my second year of SPED PRE-K and progress monitoring is a tough one to tackle. I have a morning and afternoon class, only 2 hours and 40 minutes per class, so we have to fit it all in, especially time to play and taking breaks. The data rings will be my summer project and I loooove sticky notes! Ha I also have three assistants and this would make it so clear for all of them, still fine tuning our system.
Thank you for all that you share!
Andrea
Katie says
July 1, 2018 at 6:36 pmHi! I am so excited to try this. I was looking for the sticker link but I could not find it. Could I please get that? Thanks!
Stephanie says
July 4, 2018 at 6:31 pmYou can find the Communication stickers here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Communication-Stickers-Progress-Monitoring-Stickers-from-Teachers-to-Parents-2542725
dahlks47 says
July 16, 2018 at 8:23 pmLove this! But I’m having a hard time finding it in the Resource Library or on TpT.. help! 🙂
Stephanie says
July 18, 2018 at 4:02 pmUse the pictures as a guide to find the resource you’re look for, or use the text titles.
Aisha Howard says
August 1, 2018 at 10:06 pmDo you happen to have templates for the stickers? Thanks!!
Stephanie says
August 3, 2018 at 8:37 amYou can find the Communication Stickers here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Communication-Stickers-Progress-Monitoring-Stickers-from-Teachers-to-Parents-2542725
Katie says
August 3, 2018 at 9:19 amHi I am having issues being able to download this resource. I have tried to login and I have subscribed but it still could not. Can you please help? Thank you!
Stephanie says
August 3, 2018 at 10:14 amThe newsletter and resource library are two separate things. If you have not created a login for the new resource library (as of October 12, 2017), then you will need to create a new login. Go to https://www.mrsdscorner.com/resource-library Click “Join Membership”. The next step is •SUPER• important. Scroll down the page, past the newsletter signup. You’ll see the form to create a new membership login username and password. Submit. Now you will be able to login to the new Resource Library.
saslagle17 says
August 12, 2018 at 3:41 pmI love this! Could you post what fonts you used so I can download them? Thanks!
Stephanie says
August 15, 2018 at 11:21 amIf you click in the text of the text you want to change, it will tell you what font it is. But you will need to download it to your computer for it to actually show up.
angelmarialeon says
August 16, 2018 at 6:19 pmThis is a great idea! I can’t wait to use it with my 5th-6th grade Enhanced Autism Classroom. Do you offer a template for the stickers? That seems like alot of work to do, but it is a great idea.
Thanks,
Angel
Stephanie says
August 18, 2018 at 12:55 pmNo, I do not have a template for sale for the communication stickers.
Monica Cox says
August 19, 2018 at 10:22 pmWould I just progress monitor on the Goals or would I progress monitor on both goals and objectives? For instance I have a student who has a self help goal and below that goal is 3 objectives I would be taking data on during the grading period. This applies to each goal I have for her which is a total of 4 goals with at least 2-4 objectives in each.
Stephanie says
August 26, 2018 at 8:13 amBoth.
KatieA94 says
August 22, 2018 at 12:31 pmWow! These are amazing! Thank you so much, this is going to be awesome for a me as a first year teacher.
gmacindy says
February 26, 2019 at 4:57 pmLove your energy and enthusiasm for progress monitoring. I am looking for ideas to help families do progress monitoring for their infants and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities. You mentioned you keep sticky notes everywhere in your classroom which can translate to families keeping sticky notes handy in places where interventions during routines and activities are happening. Your cards could be adapted to fit daily routines and activities of the family and child rather than IEP goal areas. Or the cards could be IFSP goals with a variety of routines and activities listed on each card where data is collected. The point is that you have great tips for making this important task as simple as possible and that is what I am looking for. Thank you!
Sara says
April 14, 2019 at 9:49 pmI have been a special ed teacher for 16 years and progress monitoring and data collection is one of those areas that is ever changing for me….I’m always looking for a system that is efficient, easy to understand, and works the way my brain works. This system is it! I can quit looking! I love it for so many reasons. it is so easy to access. If anyone comes and asks me about a student, I can pull this out and show them recent progress. I love that when it is time to write a new IEP I just grab their cards to take home for the evening to work on it. Reporting on progress data is great because it’s all in one place. I have shown this system to as many sped teachers as I can. Thank you so much for making my job easier!!